Chondrogenic Characteristics of Auricular Chondrocytes Cocultured With Adipose-Derived Stem Cells are Superior to Stromal Vascular Fraction of Adipose Tissue.

Reconstruction of craniofacial cartilage defects is among the most challenging operations in facial plastic surgery. The co-culture system of partial replacement of chondrocytes by stem cells has been confirmed effective in the repair of cartilaginous defects. The aim of this study is to compare chondrogenic properties of expanded adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and stromal vascular fraction (SVF), including ADSCs/SVF monoculture and coculture with rabbit auricular chondrocytes (ACs). Analysis of morphology, histology, real-time polymerase chain reaction and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) quantification were performed to characterize the chondrogenesis of pellets. The triple differentiation potential of ADSCs had been confirmed. Further, using flow cytometry, the authors demonstrated that ADSCs and SVF have different characteristics in cell surface markers, and ADSCs are more enriched in cells from the mesenchymal lineage than SVF. GAG production of ADSCs is significantly higher than that of SVF in pellet monoculture, and pellet coculture of ADSCs and ACs are better in depositing cartilage matrix than the mixture of SVF and ACs. Our study suggests that ADSCs may be more suitable seed cells for craniofacial cartilage defect or deformity repair.